Disaster Preparedness Starts With You

Acknowledgements Prepared by: Emergency Preparedness Planning Committee, a subcommittee of the Human Services Coordinating Council and Appointed by the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors Sacramento Office of Emergency Services This project was supported by Grant No. 2008-0006 awarded by the Office of Homeland Security (OHS), Office of Justice Programs. Points of view, opinions, findings, and conclusions in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Office of Justice Programs or of OHS. OHS reserves a royalty-free Non-exclusive, and irrevocable license to reproduce, publish, and use these materials and to authorized others to do so.

Why Should You Be Prepared? Emergency resources may be limited Helps you and those around you survive Reduces fear and anxiety

Preparing is Simple: Action Steps to Preparedness Get Informed Make a Plan Assemble a Disaster and “Go” Kit Maintain Your Plan and Kits Address Individual Special Needs

Get Informed: Types of Disasters in our area Flooding Hazardous Material Spill Fires (both wildland and home) Winter Storms Disease Outbreak Heatwave Tornadoes

Why is it important to plan ahead? Make a Plan Why is it important to plan ahead?

Make a Plan Types of Preparedness Plans Personal (for home or workplace) Family (includes everyone in your household--don’t forget your pets) Workplace (educate your co-workers on disaster preparedness)

Make a Plan Creating a plan Plan to survive on your own for at least 72 hours Know your evacuation routes Create a personal support network Plan for services to be unavailable Indentify your “family contact” Inventory home possessions Copy important documents

Make a Plan Don’t forget to include… Learn basic first aid and CPR skills Learn how to use a fire extinguisher Learn how to shelter in place Learn where your evacuation notices come from Where do evacuation notices come from? Local law enforcement Radio Television Reverse 911 (if applicable in your area)

Make a Plan Plan for pets and service animals Know the laws regarding pets and service animals in shelters Plan for an alternative safe location for your pets Prepare a disaster kit and carrier if applicable for your pet Make sure pets and service animals are properly identified Make copies of vaccination and shot history Keep recent photos of you and your pet with your plan and kit

Stationary vs. Portable Disaster Kits and Go Kits What’s the difference? Stationary vs. Portable

Disaster Kit Must be easily accessible in your home or office Water (for everyone in the household for at least 72 hours) Non-perishable food (for everyone in household for at least 72 hours) Games and books for children Copies of personal documents Battery-operated or hand crank radio Flashlights and flameless candles Extra batteries Over the counter medicine First aid kit Change of clothes for members of the family Blankets Emergency whistle Hand sanitizer and personal hygiene items Plastic sheeting and duct tape for sheltering in place Cash

Go Kit Must be portable to take to evacuation center or shelter Water Non-perishable snack items Games and books for children Pen/pencil and paper Copies of important personal documents Personal hygiene items First aid kit Over the counter medications and personal prescriptions Battery operated flashlight and radio Extra batteries Clean change of clothes for family members Bedding (sleeping bag, pillow, blanket) Cash Other reasonable items to make you feel comfortable in a shelter

Maintaining your plan and kit Practice Keep information updated on a regular basis Change items in your kits every 6 months Let your outside contact know where you keep your kit and what your plan is in the event of a disaster Include your neighbors in your plan

Working with the Special Needs Population

Special Needs Population Consider: Additional challenges will be faced in a disaster Temporary evacuations or relocations may take place Familiar support network may not be available

Specific Populations Visually Impaired Keep an extra mobility cane in disaster kit and keep extra canes in strategic locations at home, work, school, etc. Know your rights in terms of service animals Have written instructions on how to care for service animal Prepare a disaster and “go” kit for the service animal and include all forms of identification Pre-label emergency supplies with Braille, large print or brightly colored tape Prepare for being without auditory cues Organize medications so that they can be easily packed Keep any assistive devices readily available Prepare a written description of how to use assistive devices Know how to verify credibility of emergency responder Be familiar with transportation routes around your home and neighborhood Know emergency exit routes of buildings you are in

Specific Populations Children and Teens Encourage family to develop and practice emergency plan Know where you will meet your family if a disaster occurs when you are not at home Designate and know phone number of a family member outside the area where you can check in, in case you are separated from your family Create a list of medications or other items to which you may be allergic Follow instructions of emergency response officials Don’t be afraid to ask questions

Specific Populations Cognitive Impairments Write down your plan, review and practice often Keep pre-printed messages that explain needs, how to best communicate with you and other important phrases or pieces of information Write down how you will contact family/caregivers Know exactly how you will describe your needs to others Wear identification bracelets or dog tags at all times Register with Alzheimer’s Safe Return Program Pack items that will help you feel comfortable in unfamiliar settings (i.e. family photos)

Specific Populations Culturally Diverse Develop a plan for contacting family and friends if you are separated Have key information about yourself written down, in English and your primary language Know where to go for information in your primary language If you don’t speak English, learn key phrases to ask for help or get directions Develop relationships with emergency response staff prior to emergency Be willing to trust and follow instructions of uniformed officials

Specific Populations Hearing Impaired Store extra batteries for hearing aids, portable TTY machines, laptops and other communication devices Have a battery operated television Know which media outlets provide captioned emergency information Create a list of pre-printed statements and explanations describing your condition, needs and how you prefer to communicate Keep pens and paper in your emergency kit for writing notes

Specific Populations Homeless Develop and engage in word of mouth networks to disseminate information Have some form of ID Keep supply of medications with you at all times Develop a buddy system Know evacuation routes from where you typically stay Be prepared to have your pet placed temporarily in a shelter Follow instructions of emergency response officials

Specific Populations Medically Fragile Keep list of your medical condition/status with you at all times Have a list of your medications and instructions for their use Know how you will keep medications refrigerated Have a plan for what to do if your home health caregiver cannot get to you Have hand written operating instructions for all equipment Have extra batteries, oxygen, catheters, etc. that might be needed Have back up power supplies for any equipment Inform utility provider of any life support equipment you have that rely on electricity Know locations of facilities that can support your life sustaining needs Notify local fire station of your conditions and needs

Specific Populations Mental Health Maintain a brief statement of your condition and needs on your person Keep pre-printed messages that explain needs, how best to communicate with you, and other important phrases or pieces of information Identification bracelets or dog tags Practice how you would communicate your needs to responders Think about how you will feel in an emergency and practice how you will cope with those emotions Practice calming methods Have a list of and know how you will contact family, friends and providers

Specific Populations Mobility Impairments Know evacuation routes out of your house/ work/school Arrange furniture so that you have multiple barrier-free paths in your home If in a wheelchair, keep heavy gloves with you in case you are in area with glass/debris Have extra batteries for motorized wheelchair or scooter If possible, keep an extra set of mobility assistance devices (e.g. canes, etc.) in convenient locations Keep operating instructions for all mobility assistance devices with the devices Keep written instructions with your device on how to safely move you in case your device cannot be moved 25

Specific Populations Seniors Consider personal needs and assistive devices, such as eye glasses, hearing aids and other life support devices Have ample layers of clothing in disaster and go kits to remain warm Keep copies of pre-printed messages with you that explain your needs, how best to communicate with you and other important information about yourself

For More Information www.SacramentoReady.org www.oes.ca.gov www.fema.gov www.prepare.org www.ready.gov 211-Sacramento www.cdc.gov www.redcross.org